The OEH began investigations after it was discovered that Inverell Shire Council had taken clearing actions within a 14 kilometre stretch of Box Gum Grassy Woodland along the Ashford Road, north of Bukkulla. 

The warning came after the investigation found council had breached the long-standing National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974 for damage to an ecological community, identified under the Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995. 

OEH spokesperson, Lawrence Orel, said failure to heed the warning could result in fine of up to $110,000. 

Inverell Shire Council general manager, Paul Henry, said in a written response to the Times that the action was initiated by a number of calls from the community in relation to trees, limbs and fallen timber in close proximity with the Ashford/Inverell Road.

Mr Henry also said a motorist and his family were potentially endangered when the truck they were following knocked loose an overhanging branch, which struck their vehicle. 

He said under authority of the Roads Act, council undertook an assessment of the road in question, together with an Aboriginal Archaeological inspection and a Local Land Council representative. 

The decision was made to remove overhanging limbs and some trees growing within 10 metres of the road. Following the work, a complaint was lodged with the OEH, and the investigation was triggered.

Mr Henry acknowledged that “a possible conflict between the Roads Act and the National Parks and Wildlife Act over this type of work was identified in this investigation”.

“Council staff involved in Road Safety works will work with the NSW Roadside Environment Committee to review our procedures and methodologies for performing these works,” he wrote.

Local terrestrial ecologist, Wendy Hawes wrote the Draft National Recovery Plan for the White Box, Yellow Box, Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland Grassland.

Wendy said this woody grassland once covered millions of hectares from Queensland to Victoria, but now exits in less than five per cent of its former range. It is the combination of specific trees with native vegetation that makes it so vulnerable.

“Because it occurs on fertile soils, it’s been highly cleared for agriculture, which is why we have so little of it left. And road reserves are one of the few areas that are actually in good condition,” she said.

Ms Hawes said removing trees could place pressure on surrounding landowners to maintain bushland for native habitat, and also puts pressure on displaced species. 

Among old-growth trees felled in the clearing activity were those with hollows which Ms Hawes said take from 100 to 140 years to form.

“At least 300-odd of our native species are dependent on hollows. If they haven’t got hollows, they can’t breed; they can’t live,” Ms Hawes said.

“If they cleared hollow-bearing trees, then they probably killed some animals, but they’ve left some animals and 140 years is a lot of time to get your house rebuilt.”

Mr Orel said threatened species dependent upon the community include the Koala, Little Lorikeet, Brown Treecreeper, Diamond Firetail, Varied Sitella, Spotted Tail Quoll and Black chinned Honeyeater.

She added that loss of natural ground cover might result in the loss of a future food source should the handful of current crops be affected by disease.

“And the places we’re going to go looking are these places like road reserves, because all (our crops) were at one time native plants somewhere; they’ve just been bred to suit our purpose,” she said.

“They’re very important to us, as humans to maintain those areas. We’re going to lose resources we never knew we had if we don’t.”

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